9.03.2015

Um, I'm taking the Bartleby option



In today’s inbox:

Faculty/Staff Title IX Training

Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy and Procedure – REQUIRED TRAINING

Please choose one of the following sessions to attend:

Monday, September 21, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Monday, September 21, 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Tuesday, September 22, 10:00 – 10:45 a.m.
Tuesday, September 22, 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
All sessions will be held in Watkins Auditorium in the University Center.

Who is required to attend?
Training is required for all Faculty, Exempt Staff, Non-Exempt Staff who supervise, Graduate Teaching Assistants, Supervisors, GAs/Others serving as Academic Advisors. Training will fully explain the Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and Stalking Policy and Procedure and provide clarification of your responsibilities as a Mandatory Reporter.

Trainer information: Katie Koestner with Campus Outreach Services - Katie is a national expert and has been a leader in the movement to end sexual violence since she took her own solo stand as the first survivor of date rape to speak out nationally at age 18. Subsequently, she has appeared on nearly 50 national television programs and spoken at more than 3000 college and school campuses. She assisted the U.S. Department of Education in developing and providing programs to women in high-risk communities. Her testimony on Capitol Hill was instrumental in the passage of federal student safety legislation.
Two team members from Campus Outreach Services will assist with the trainings.

Oh boy! National Expert! First Survivor! Television Programs! Testimony on Capitol Hill! Team Members to Assist!

I’m sure this is a lucrative business for Campus Outreach Services, and I’m happy for Ms. Koestner, but I wonder why we need an outside consultant to come read powerpoint slides to us. I wonder why we need to pay whatever is required to have Ms. Koestner come read powerpoint slides to us. I wonder why faculty cannot be trusted to read a document for themselves, seeing as they are professionals in knowledge fields, after all.

I will believe it’s a financial crisis when the people telling me it’s a financial crisis act like it’s a financial crisis.

And yes, I know what this is. It is 100% CYA. Calling it a “Training” is a stretch for even the most credulous. I just wish they would be honest about what is actually happening here: they have to demonstrate that they have made everyone attend a training so that lawyers etc. don’t get involved. Or any more involved.

Bonus: will the utterly bogus “1 in 5” statistic get trotted out? You bet. How soon? I’m thinking within the first 3 minutes.

Seriously taking the Bartleby option.

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